1999 SAM CHAMPS RADIO CONTROL REPORT

Dan Hodges, SAM 93, RC CD

The cooperation that both Radio Control and Free Flight got from the City of Muskogee and the Convention Center people was nothing but outstanding. The field was provided at no cost as well as an endless number of traffic cones, the walkie talkie sets for communication, the field tents, even the headquarters building for field registration and the computer. (It was fitted with an air conditioning unit just for us.) The meeting and banquet rooms at the Civic Center were provided at very nominal cost. We were treated royally.

Flying started off Monday with cold north wind and temperature in the forties. It was jacket or sweater weather for sure. But by 11:00 am there was a cloudless sky and breezes of only 4 to 10 mph. By mid-afternoon the temperature was in the mid 60's and a perfect flying day. The Playboy Scramble event went over big with Joe Elgin himself making a flight. Steve Roselle won the Electric Texaco event with a single flight of over 52 minutes. In Texaco Glow Herb Walters lost his Dallaire overhead. It came down on the golf course south of the field but was delivered back to the field. Harold Sprague's big Bomber drifted off the field and landed on a road where it was promptly run over by a truck. George Tallent had three maxes in O&R 23, but he was disappointed. He was the only all-maxer and wanted to be in a fly-off.

Tuesday was a perfect flying day with many, many maxes. In Class C Glow LER there were 14 models in a fly-off, and as there was no conflict with frequencies, all 14 lined up on the flight line. At the signal engines started and up they went. It was a spectacular sight. Forty-four contestants flew in 1/2A Texaco with Eut Tileston winning in a three-way fly-off with his beautiful "V Tail Swallow". The winner of the O&R Sideport event in a 6 model fly-off was won by Gerald Martin, a relative new-comer to Old Timer flying.

Wednesday dawned clear and cool but warmed up to the 70's. Wind was 8 to 15. There were fly-offs in all four events. Class B Glow LER was won by a younger old timer, John LeTrent. (Look out for this guy. He's coming on strong.) But this was Fred Mulholland's day as he captured first place in A Ignition LER, Antique, and Pure Antique.

The wind picked up on Thursday to 15 mph early with stronger wind aloft. Many RC models were hard to hold against the wind and came down on the far side of the field. Fred Mulholland's model came down on top of the hangar. It was retrieved by the fire department. He took it in to the motel, repaired the damage, then brought it back to the field to finish his flights. In A Texaco the trio from Oklahoma City, Sam Hulin, Harold Sprague, and Ron Johnson, are a force to be contended with in the way they operate as a team. Their long motor runs assure a max and produce very long fly-off flights. Sam Hulin won the event with a fly-off flight of over 34 minutes.

Friday was another perfect flying day. It was supposed to be a light flying day so we could all get to the banquet on time. But the graceful electric models flew beautifully and just wouldn't come down. The first eight flyers in the Spirit of Sam Electric event scored two ten minute maxes with five more maxing out to make a 13 model fly-off. It was won by Mike McIntyre, another younger old timer. Kirby Hinson won 1/2A Scale with his graceful Avro. This was his fourth Champs for him in this event.

The Pure Texaco special event was conducted by Jim Steinberg, President of host Chapter, SAM 93. With a single flight of almost 57 minutes Ed Hamler won the new Super Cyclone engine donated by model engine collector Ward Hallenburg of Tulsa.

All in all it was a very successful SAM Champs. The weather cooperated and there was no rain. I would like to give a special handshake of appreciation to those of SAM 93 who helped with the running of this SAM Champs. Rick Downs was the faithful manager of the transmitter impound each day; Bob Thompson served as registrar for the entries and made himself available for any job all week; Jim Steinberg helped with weighing and ran the Pure Texaco event. And of course Al Taffs of SAM 105 in Okla, City was my right hand man as Assistant CD. And the ladies at the scoring table, Shirley Hinson, Joan Walter, Jackie Hainan, Rosa Lee Clem did a marvelous job.

There were many others who pitched in when asked to help at the scoring table or as a flight line marshals. I thank all you folks. But a special hug to my wife, Willie, who supported me all through the weeks of preparation and during the meet in the HQ building helping with registration and the computer.

Observations of the 1999 SAM Champs -